Axelrod: No snub of Netanyahu

White House senior adviser David Axelrod is denying that the White House's handling of a meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week was an effort to embarrass the foreign leader over Israel's decisions to proceed with new housing construction in East Jerusalem.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Axelrod said in an interview aired Sunday the decision to lock reporters and photographers out of the session wasn't a slight of Netanyahu.

"This was not a ceremonial meeting. This was a working meeting among friends," Axelrod said. "There was no snub intended."

Axelrod also said the White House's harsh criticism of Israel over the housing issue and the peace process didn't indicating a breach in U.S.-Israel relations.